What is PoE?
PoE stands for Power over Ethernet, which is a technology used to transmit electrical power along with data over Ethernet cables.
This eliminates the need for separate power cables and allows devices such as IP cameras, wireless access points, and VoIP phones to be powered and connected to the network using a single cable. PoE technology works by sending DC power over unused pairs of wires in the Ethernet cable, while the data is transmitted over the other pairs. The power is provided by a PoE-enabled switch or injector, which detects the presence of a PoE-compatible device and sends power accordingly. PoE can provide up to 30 watts of power per port, which is enough to power most network devices. There are also variations of PoE, such as PoE+ and PoE++ (also known as 802.3at and 802.3bt, respectively), which can provide up to 60 or 100 watts of power per port, allowing for higher-power devices such as pan-tilt-zoom cameras and access points with multiple radios to be powered over Ethernet. Overall, PoE technology simplifies network deployment and reduces costs by eliminating the need for separate power cabling, making it a popular choice in modern communication networks.